Fiji

by Paul Bacsich, with some updates by staff of ATiT

For entities in Fiji see Category:Fiji

Experts situated in Fiji

None so far.

Fiji in a nutshell

(sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji)

Fiji (Fijian: Matanitu ko Viti; Fijian Hindustani: फ़िजी), officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Fijian: Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti; Fijian Hindustani: फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य, fiji dvip samooh ganarajya), is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean east of Vanuatu, west of Tonga and south of Tuvalu. The country occupies an archipelago of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited, and 522 islets. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population.

The population of Fiji is 890,057 (July 2012 estimate according to CIA's World Factbook).

The capital is Suva.

Fiji is divided into for major Divisions: Central, Eastern, Northern and Western. These divisions are further divided into 14 provinces.

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the more developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Natural resources include timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower. Fiji experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1960s and 1970s but stagnated in the 1980s. Economic liberalization in recent years created a boom in the garment industry and a steady growth rate despite growing uncertainty of land tenure in the sugar industry. The expiration of leases for sugar cane farmers (along with reduced farm and factory efficiency) has led to a decline in sugar production despite a subsidized price.

Urbanization and expansion in the service sector have contributed to recent GDP growth. Sugar exports and a rapidly growing tourist industry - with 430,800 tourists in 2003 and increasing in the subsequent years - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Fiji is highly dependent on tourism for revenue. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights.

The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact on the economy, which shrank by 2.8% in 2000 and grew by only 1% in 2001.

Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. It has 350 000 first-language speakers, which is less than half the population of Fiji, but another 200,000 speak it as a second language. The 1997 Constitution established Fijian as an official language of Fiji, along with English and Hindustani, and there is discussion about establishing it as the "national language", though English and Hindustani would remain official.

The Fiji Islands developed many languages, some similar and some very different. Missionaries in the 1840s chose the language of one island, Bau, off the southeast of the main island of Viti Levu, to be the official language of Fiji. Standard Fijian is based on the language of Bau, which is an East Fijian language. There are many other dialects that make up the West Fijian languages including dialects spoken in the Nadroga/Navosa and those of the western island groups and provinces.

Education in Fiji

Primary school education in Fiji is compulsory for eight years. In 1998, the gross primary enrollment rate was 110.5 percent, and the net primary enrollment rate was 99.4 percent. As of 2001, attendance was decreasing due to security concerns and the burden of school fees, often due to the cost of transport. Adult illiteracy rates for the year 2000 were estimated at 7.1% (males, 5.0%; females, 9.1%).

The Ministry of Education is responsible for the administration and management of education policy and delivery of educational services. It provides the curriculum frameworks, policy guidelines and directions, and qualified teaching personnel that support all schools in the delivery of quality education for students. The core business of the Ministry of Education is the delivery of education and training services with these being provided specifically to:

• schools, pre-schools and training centres
• students in the years of compulsory schooling and those participating in Forms 5, 6 and 7 studies including vocational education and training programmes
• teaching personnel
• school management and controlling authority.

For more details see http://www.education.gov.fj

There are government schools as well as private schools operated by individual groups or by missions under government supervision. In 1990, public expenditure on education was 4.6% of GDP. In the mid-1990s there were 4,644 teachers and 145,630 pupils in 693 primary schools. Secondary schools had 3,631 teachers and 66,890 students. Of these, 6,653 students were enrolled in technical and vocational schools. The pupil-teacher ratio at the primary level was 23 to 1 in 1999. In the same year, 99% of primary-school-age children were enrolled in school.

Further and Higher education

There were (until recently) four institutions of higher education in Fiji.

The Fiji-based University of the South Pacific has its campus in Suva and is financed by the 12 countries of the region. To the USP come 2,500 full-time students, with double this number studying by extension (distance learning) through local centres in the various neighbouring countries.

Other institutions include:

1. Fiji School of Medicine, in Suva
2. Fiji Institute of Technology, in Suva
3. Teachers College, in Lautoka on the western side of Viti Levu.

All third-level institutions and universities had approximately 8,000 students and a faculty staff nearing 300 personnel.

Universities in Fiji

The only university (until 2010) was the University of the South Pacific. However, the Fiji School of Medicine is a university-level tertiary institution, and the Fiji National University has begun in January 2010.

Fiji School of Medicine

"The Fiji School of Medicine is a Tertiary Education Institution striving towards Excellence in Training and Education of Health Professionals in the South Pacific. It is located on the main island of Viti Levu.

As the premier medical institute in the South Pacific, FSM has been educating Health Care Professionals since its establishment in 1885 as Suva Medical School to train vaccinators. The School has produced many motivated and skilled health care professionals who are now serving in key positions in the Pacific and overseas.

The school now provides training in most health science disciplines including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, radiography, laboratory technology, public health, dietetics and environmental health."

It offers flexible modes of delivery - face-to-face, franchise, and Open and Distance Learning.

Its web site is at http://www.fsm.ac.fj

Fiji National University (2010 start)

The Fiji National University (FNU) is a new university established through the merger of 6 government-owned tertiary institutions in Fiji. Of these 6, two are institutions (Fiji Institute of Technology and Fiji School of Medicine) while 4 are parts of government departments (Fiji College of Advanced Education, Fiji College of Agriculture, Lautoka Teachers College, and Fiji School of Nursing).

The constituent parts now operate from 16 locations throughout Fiji, and collectively offer Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Degrees and postgraduate qualifications. Approximately 25,000 students are expected to pass through the University each year. The University commenced operations from 1 January 2010.

The University comprises 5 Colleges:

1. College of Humanities and Education
2. College of Medicine, Nursing and Public Health,
3. College of Engineering, Science and Technology,
4. College of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
5. College of Commerce, Hospitality and Tourism Studies.

Each College is headed by a Dean who reports to the University's Vice Chancellor.

The College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences comprises the following Schools:

• Fiji School of Medicine, composed of the following departments: Medical Science, Health Science, Oral Health and Public Health, and Fiji School of Nursing.

The College of Engineering, Science and Technology comprises the following Institutes, Schools and Departments:

• Institute of Technology, composed of the following schools and departments: Automotive Engineering & Road Transport, Aviation, Building and Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Maritime Studies, and Printing Studies & Technology
• Institute of Science, composed of the following schools and departments: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Food Technology, and Environmental Studies.

The College of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries comprises the following Schools and Departments: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The College of Commerce, Hospitality and Tourism comprises the following Schools and Departments:

• School of Business and Economics, composed of the following departments: Accounting, Economics & Finance, Management & Industrial Relations, Information Technology, and Office Administration.
• School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, composed of the Departments of Food & Beverage, and Accommodation Management.

The College of Humanities and Education comprises the following Schools:

• School of Education comprising (a) School of Physical Education, Sports Science & Recreation, and (b) School of Social Science
• School of Communication and Creative Arts, comprising departments of Communication, Language & Literature, Media Studies & Journalism, Film & Television, Graphic Arts & Design, and Fine Arts, Culture and Music.

Polytechnics in Fiji

Fiji Institute of Technology, in Suva

"The Fiji Institute of Technology is one of the largest technical and vocational institutes in Fiji. It has its own governing council which comprises of experienced people who are working in the Fiji Government, industries as well as the commercial field. FIT had its establishment in the 1960s and continues to deliver a wide range of new programmes offered which are tailor-made to suit our customers."

Its web site is at http://www.fit.ac.fj

Colleges in Fiji

Teachers College

There seem to be several institutions going under this name, perhaps different campuses of one institution:

1. Davuilevu Teacher Training Institute
2. Nasinu Teachers Training College
3. Lautoka Teachers Training College

Administration and finance

Post-secondary

No information. This is likely to change considerably now that the Fiji National University is in operation.

Quality assurance

Post-secondary

The University of the South Pacific is now a member of the Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN) - see http://www.quality.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=5420

ICT in education initiatives

Initiatives in ICT education in schools only commenced in1996 in 10 schools Fiji Islands. By 2003, following the success of the initial 10 schools, 86 of the total 156 secondary schools in Fiji were already implementing the curriculum. Of the 86 schools, 35 had internet access and these 35 schools were concentrated in the town aread of Suva, Nasinu, Nausori, Lautoka, Ba and Labasa.

Significantly, the Nadi Muslim College utilized ICT and internet access for a variety of other purposes including a Smart School Plan which utilized ICT for school administration and operation, value added teaching, delivering other courses using ICT and also providing teachers and students alike with an open-access. Tailevu North College also integrated ICT in the teaching of other professional courses such as Carpentry, Automotive Engineering, Secretarial and Catering.

The curriculum according to the Ministry of Education aims at providing students the opportunity to:

• Become familiar with and understand the basic features of computers
• Develop skills to use the computer creatively
• Develop logic and problem-solving strategies in a variety of situations
• Use the computer and commercial software as a tool in writing (word-processing), and number intensive calculations (spreadsheet)
• Explore the social and economic implications of the computer
• Become aware of the availability of the information that is electronically stored, updated and manipulated by computers, as well as the potential for the misuse of information about individuals
• Evaluate their own attitudes and values as these relate to possible uses and abuses on computer technology in society
• Become aware of different types of computer related careers and their basic educational requirements

However, it is not certain if this curriculum has been revised since 2005.

Virtual initiatives in post-secondary education

See University of the South Pacific.

Lessons learnt

Unclear until the relationship of the Fiji National University and the University of the South Pacific is better understood.

References

1. Ministry of Education, http://www.education.gov.fj
2. Fiji: Implementation of ICT in Teacher Training, http://www.comminit.com/en/node/147606/308

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For OER policies and projects in Fiji see Fiji/OER

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